Report

Mind the fertility gap

Think tank: Institute of Economic Affairs

Author(s): Clara Piano

October 30, 2025

This report from UK think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs examines why people stopped having babies and how economic freedom can help.

This report shows how pro-natal policies that focus on cash incentives, such as baby bonuses, subsidies, and maternity pay, may have some short term effect but are often found wanting and prohibitively expensive.